Sunni Waqf Board member Haji Mehboob said that Kapil Sibal argued the case in the apex court as a Congress leader and not on behalf of the board.

Kapil Sibal argued the case in Supreme Court as a Congress leader and not on behalf of the board, Sunni Waqf Board member Haji Mehboob said.

In a fresh twist in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, the Sunni Waqf Board on Wednesday said that they differ with senior lawyer Kapil Sibal's arguments in the Supreme Court seeking postponement of hearing in the matter till the 2019 polls, saying they favour an immediate solution to the long-standing dispute.

Sunni Waqf Board member Haji Mehboob said that Kapil Sibal argued the case in the apex court as a Congress leader and not on behalf of the board.

The development comes a day after Sibal, who is representing the Sunni Waqf Board in the Ram temple issue, urged the Supreme Court to take up the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case in July 2019, after the Lok Sabha elections.

Sibal told the apex court that the Ayodhya dispute has been politicised and any decision in the matter could have broader political ramifications. "Construction of Ram Temple is part of BJP manifesto in 2014, court should not fall into the trap", Sibal had said.

However, the demand was brushed aside by the top court as it fixed February 8, 2018 for commencing final hearing in the case.

Earlier in the day, PM Narendra Modi attacked Congress' Kapil Sibal for linking the Ram temple issue to the Lok Sabha elections. "Yesterday in the Supreme Court, a Congress MP Kapil Sibal was arguing (which is his right) for the Babri Masjid. He is entitled to do that, but is it right for him to say postpone hearing till 2019?" Modi said while addressing a rally in Gujarat's Dhandhuka.

"Why does he have to link a Ram Mandir (temple) with elections. Is such thinking proper?" Modi asked from the crowd.

"Now Congress links Ram Mandir with elections. They are least bothered about the nation," Modi said.